I had only just discovered my favorite foundation ever in Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat Le Teint for less than a year when I heard that YSL was about to come up with a reformulation. Sure, it could be great. But it could also ruin my newly found foundation love. I felt like a kid who sees someone take away their favorite toy to fix it, or replace it with something newer. Is it really going to be an upgrade, or is it never going to feel the same?

To find out, I got a sample in the same shade I wear in the "old" formula, B40, and tested it out for a couple of weeks. I alternated between the new and the old every day for a little while. I even wore the previous formula on half of my face and the new one on the other a few times to compare them thoroughly! Here are my thoughts:

Texture

I don't really notice a change here. The new Touche Eclat Le Teint is similarly fluid and easy to spread out on the skin. It's not as watery as some serum-like foundations, such as Dior Nude Air Serum or even YSL Fusion Ink foundation, but it is light and quite runny. I still prefer to apply it with a brush for a smooth, even finish.

Color

I had the feeling when I first tried the new formula that my shade, B40, ran a little darker than before, and that impression was confirmed when I swatched both side by side. It's a smidgen darker and maybe even slightly warmer. The difference is subtle enough that no one gave me funny looks when I was wearing both versions together, each on one half of my face. But it's a bit unfortunate as B40 used to be an absolute perfect match for my summer skin tone. Right now, as spring has just started, it's a little dark for me in the old formula, and even more noticeably so in the new formula. This is accentuated by the fact that my neck is considerably lighter than my face (I love scarves, what can I do...).

Beyond the shade being a smidgen darker and the tone slightly warmer, I also noticed when swatching both on my arm that the new formula contains reflective particles that are visible to the naked eye, when the old version didn't. These particles don't translate as shimmer when applied to the face though, so you don't have to worry about a disco ball effect.

Coverage

YSL promised "better flawless coverage" with the new Touche Eclat, and I have to agree with that. The coverage is a little bit higher, going from light-medium to a solid medium with the reformulation. So it hides my redness a little better, but it also looks a little less natural. That's a trade off, so whether you like it or not depends on what's most important for you.

Finish

The one thing I wasn't so fond of about the original version of Touche Eclat Le Teint was that its finish was a little too dewy for my taste and my skin type. That was nothing a little bit of mattifying powder couldn't fix, but it really looked quite shiny right after application, setting to a more satiny finish after a few hours on me. The new formula is a little less dewy when just applied, so that's a plus for me. On the other hand, it does get shiny over time, with my T-zone looking quite oily after 5+ hours. Still can't skip the mattifying powder with this new formula!

What about the claims of "Radiance Awakening", now part of the foundation name? Touche Eclat Le Teint has always been a luminous, brightening foundation, and I don't think the new formula is any better in that department, despite the addition of the shimmery particles I mentioned before. I don't think it makes my face look any more radiant or luminous than the previous version. In fact, it might look a little less luminous, due to the slightly matter finish, darker shade, and less hydrating feel. Again, the difference is subtle, but I do find the new formula a little less moisturizing, hence a bit less comfortable. This is something I only noticed when I wore the old version on one half of my face and the new one on the other.

Wear

The reformulated version wears better on me than the old one. It's only logical considering it's less dewy and hydrating. The old formula fades and breaks down faster, especially on warmer days. The new version tends to emphasize pores and lines a little more by the end of the day, but it really lasts longer.

Packaging

The glass bottle with a pump and a golden cap remained the same, the only thing that changed is the print. Here's the old vs. the new bottle:

I'm happy to report that no, this reformulation hasn't ruined my favorite foundation! There are subtle differences though, and the main trade off is a less natural finish with a less hydrating formula for better coverage and longer wear. If you used the YSL Touche Eclat Le Teint Foundation in the past, I would suggest getting color-matched again or at least asking for a sample of your previous shade, since mine got slightly darker in the new formula.

Where to buy?

The product featured in this review was purchased by Lulle. I received no compensation to write this post, which only reflects my personal opinion. This post contains affiliate links.

Bonjour!

Lulle, 30-something, I was born and lived most of my life in France. I also spent 5 years in Istanbul, Turkey, and now reside in San Diego, California. I have a cat, Ernesto, a little rascal who traveled with me from one country to another.

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